British industry
Britain used to have many manufacturing industries, but since the Second World War it is service industries, especially banking and retailing, which have expanded. About 70 per cent of people now work in service industries, including tourism, insurance, computer technology and retailing. Two and a half million people work in retailing (shops, supermarkets, chain-stores) in Britain. Less than 30 per cent of people have jobs in industry.
Heavy industries like steel manufacture and shipbuilding have been replaced by high-technology manufacturing industries such as aeroplane engines and pharmaceuticals.
1
Do you think the following people work in a service industry or in a manufacturing industry?
a research chemist for a drugs company
b aircraft factory worker
c insurance salesperson
d bank cashier
e travel agent
f sales assistant
2
Read the text to find out if you are right.
Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain. 21st Century Edition, Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 42